In the last installment of this report about Türkiye I am going to talk about the main reason why I went to that country: tourism.
Turkey is one of the Mediterranean countries with greatest cultural heritage, with Greek and Roman ruins spread throughout its geography and in a considerable good state of conservation. As a legacy of the former Ottoman Empire, the Turks preserve a series of traditions that make the country a rich example of multiculturalism, coexistence between cultures and closeness to the Arab world, with an open and modern mentality.
In Istanbul it is recommended to visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia (which currently exhibits a series of Christian frescoes in contrast to the Muslim influence of the interior). At dusk you can see an unforgettable sight: the setting of the sun while the mujahideen calls to prayer from the minaret of the mosque (creating an indescribable atmosphere). In addition, monuments such as the Galata Tower (from which you can enjoy a 360º panoramic view of the entire city), the Palaces of Dolmahbache and Tokcapi (with optional visits to the Harem area, where the sultans were intimate with their concubines) and a visit to the Cistern (an underground water tank under the streets of the city with a subdued atmosphere full of columns, with special attention to that of Medusa, a Greco-Roman mythological character) are essential.
Crossing the Strait of the Bosphorus, now in the Asian part of the country, a tour begins through Central Anatolia, ruin after ruin, where you can notice the contrasts between the Amphitheater of Aspendos (famous for the representation of plays and tenor concerts today), the Trojan Horse (located in the city that gives it its name, among the ruins of 9 different cities from different periods), the Mediterranean coast of Antalya (a style of the Croatian coast, where a boat excursion will delight sea fans) or the lime mountains and hot springs of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle).
Also unforgettable are the landscapes of the Cappadocia region, where the calcareous formations in the shape of chimneys (used until the 1950s as underground dwellings since the time of the troglodyte caves) create a unique harmony, especially if they are seen from a hot air balloon ride (€150) in which they play with the stone formations, getting close to them until they can almost touch them and, in a few seconds, climb up to the 1700 meters of altitude to contemplate the valleys from a bird’s eye view. When they descend, they deliver a diploma and a glass of champagne (and before the flight a mini breakfast to whet your appetite and watch the sunrise while they inflate the balloons). And if you are lucky like me, you will be able to take the one-hour tour in the largest hot air balloon in the world according to Guinness, being piloted by the youngest pilot.
And I have to highlight how superstitious the Turks are, something I have been able to verify on my tour. On one occasion I made a purchase at a stall in a small tourist town at 8 in the morning and when paying, the man rubbed his beard with the coins and threw them on the ground in a kind of ritual that, as they explained to me later, means that this was the first purchase of the day and they did it so that the rest of the purchases that took place would be as fruitful as that one. Furthermore, everyone who goes to Turkey will come with the blue eye (a kind of Talisman that presides along with the photo of its founder in any place to avoid the evil eye), to say the least a curious detail.
There are so many things that can be done in this country that it would take months to summarize a 15-day trip, but the best advice I can give to any reader is to lose the fear of the unknown and dare to get to know its culture. Without a doubt a destination that I hope to return to very soon.
In a final fourth installment I will show you audiovisual documents that I recorded throughout the country for bocabit.com, and that I am currently uploading to YouTube. I hope that with them it will be easier for you to get an idea of the Turkish cultural mix and heritage.
